New to lifting weights!

[EricHanna182]

To make a long story short, I'm 6ft 200lbs at 20-21% bf and what I want to do is lose 20-25lbs of fat and gain 5-10lbs of muscle by March-April 2014. So that leaves me 7-8months to get to my goal. My question to you all is should I go on a cut then bulk up or vice versa? Or if it's possible to gain muscle while shedding fat.

Whichever one you think I should do, please give me dietary/workout advice because I struggle with it immensely. Thank you for your time!

[DasPhilosopher]

search function here is magical, check out youtuber,'strengthcamp'

[cumminslifter]

if you want to lose weight you need to eat in a caloric deficit

[EricHanna182]

search function here is magical, check out youtuber,'strengthcamp'

I actually do watch that channel! Elliot Hulse is incredibly knowledgable and an amazing athlete!

[EricHanna182]

if you want to lose weight you need to eat in a caloric deficit

Gotcha, but I'm more so confused on if I should weightlift and do cardio together or one or the other. Thanks though!

[SuffolkPunch]

Gotcha, but I'm more so confused on if I should weightlift and do cardio together or one or the other. Thanks though!

Weight training is mandatory

Cardio is optional

http://www.simplyshredded.com/nutrit...edded-com.html

[WonderPug]

Weight training is mandatory. Cardio is optional.

And engaging in intensive, progressive resistance training has significant cardiovascular benefits, potentially more so than many traditional forms of LISS cardio.

[cumminslifter]

Weight training is mandatory

Cardio is optional

http://www.simplyshredded.com/nutrit...edded-com.html

right here^^^

[EricHanna182]

[QUOTE=SuffolkPunch;1119105543]Weight training is mandatory

Cardio is optional]

Ok but how many calories should I aim for if I hit the gym 4 days per week? If I want to lose fat and gain muscle.

[EricHanna182]

right here^^^

How many calories would you recommend I eat a day then if I go to the gym 4 days a week? Trying to lose fat and gain muscle

[tara19]

There is a stickie called "CALCULATING CALORIES/MACRONUTRIENTS"
You should give it a read, re-read and re-re-read.

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=121703981

I would also give this a read:

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=136691851

[cumminslifter]

There is a stickie called "CALCULATING CALORIES/MACRONUTRIENTS"
You should give it a read, re-read and re-re-read.

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=121703981

I would also give this a read:

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=136691851

come back with any questions op

[EricHanna182]

[QUOTE=tara19;1119240963]There is a stickie called "CALCULATING CALORIES/MACRONUTRIENTS"
You should give it a read, re-read and re-re-read.]

Thank you!

[EricHanna182]

come back with any questions op

Thank you man. I do have one problem. I'm running into..I don't know which active level to choose from. I guess recently my activity level has been sedentary but I exercise 4-5x a week and what I described is not an option it's either sedentary + no exercise OR lightly active + 3-5x exercise per week. Also I think for me personally, the calories they'd want me to eat are too high. I've been losing fat for a while and find the only way I have success is doing lots of exercise and eating 1800-2000 calories a day but they're wanting me to eat like 2300 a day.

Also another question, would it be ok if I did 3 sets of 8-10 reps rather than 3 sets of 12-20 reps? Seeing as how I'm on a cute would lifting moderately heavier (8-10 reps) be ok? Or mayne even beneficial? Or would the optimal way to do it be low weight, high rep? Thanks again bro!

[EricHanna182]

Thank you man. I do have one problem. I'm running into..I don't know which active level to choose from. I guess recently my activity level has been sedentary but I exercise 4-5x a week and what I described is not an option it's either sedentary + no exercise OR lightly active + 3-5x exercise per week. Also I think for me personally, the calories they'd want me to eat are too high. I've been losing fat for a while and find the only way I have success is doing lots of exercise and eating 1800-2000 calories a day but they're wanting me to eat like 2300 a day.

Also another question, would it be ok if I did 3 sets of 8-10 reps rather than 3 sets of 12-20 reps? Seeing as how I'm on a cute would lifting moderately heavier (8-10 reps) be ok? Or mayne even beneficial? Or would the optimal way to do it be low weight, high rep? Thanks again bro!

cut* and maybe* lol

[cumminslifter]

Thank you man. I do have one problem. I'm running into..I don't know which active level to choose from. I guess recently my activity level has been sedentary but I exercise 4-5x a week and what I described is not an option it's either sedentary + no exercise OR lightly active + 3-5x exercise per week. Also I think for me personally, the calories they'd want me to eat are too high. I've been losing fat for a while and find the only way I have success is doing lots of exercise and eating 1800-2000 calories a day but they're wanting me to eat like 2300 a day.

Also another question, would it be ok if I did 3 sets of 8-10 reps rather than 3 sets of 12-20 reps? Seeing as how I'm on a cute would lifting moderately heavier (8-10 reps) be ok? Or mayne even beneficial? Or would the optimal way to do it be low weight, high rep? Thanks again bro!

pick an activity level. eat in a 10-20% caloric deficit
monitor weight and adjust biweekly
get on a proven routine such as ICF 5x5, allpros, Lyle mcdonalds routine

[EricHanna182]

pick an activity level. eat in a 10-20% caloric deficit
monitor weight and adjust biweekly
get on a proven routine such as ICF 5x5, allpros, Lyle mcdonalds routine

Got it! Thank you a lot for your help man! Much appreciated!